9th-generation iPad review: Better value with more storage and a better front camera

In addition to the sixth-generation iPad mini, the ninth-generation iPad also lifted its review ban today, with reviewers generally feeling that the recurring update hits mostly the right notes in terms of storage, performance and front-end priorities. the camera

Image via CNET

As an overall take, CNETIts Scott Stein argues that the “good enough” entry-level iPad actually “covers all the bases the best” of Apple’s entire iPad lineup right now.

Stein notes that iPads are often secondary devices and are especially popular with families, and that pricing on the entry-level iPad makes it a compelling product that offers most of the functionality people are looking for in an iPad without breaking the bank.

Seriously: the iPad mini costs more, doesn’t have the same keyboard support, and is probably too small. Last year’s iPad Air is good but lacks center stage (but might be worth snapping up if it’s on sale). And the iPad Pro is great but it’s expensive.

For 2021, I think the basic stimulus is the iPad winning. Especially for the price, which usually hits $300 on sale during the holiday season.

storage

Image via Tom’s Guide

One of the most welcome improvements in the new iPad is the increase in base storage from 32 to 64 GB, although this may not be enough for some users, as highlighted by Tom’s Guide:

Apple doubled the storage capacity of the iPad compared to the previous generation, increasing the entry-level $329 model from 32 to 64 GB and the $479 upgrade storage model from 128 to 256 GB. […] The storage upgrade is a significant and welcome change, as it’s hard to enjoy all the functionality of an iPad when you have less than 32 GB of storage for all your photos, movies, apps and games. […]

Of course, the price of upgrading to a model with more storage also went up, up to $150 instead of $100. Still, if you plan to download a lot of apps and HD media, we recommend paying the upgrade cost, as 64 GB is still not an impressive amount of storage space.

Front camera

GizmodoIts Caitlin McGarry highlights improvements to the front-facing camera, including vastly improved resolution and a Center Stage feature that uses the ultra-wide front camera lens to automatically keep you in the center of the camera even when you’re moving.

One of the ninth-gen iPad’s biggest upgrades over last year’s model is the front-facing camera, which has been jacked up from a 1.2-MP lens to 12-MP. The difference is huge. Huge! I no longer feel 2004-era grainy when I video call on the new iPad, and the Neural Engine-powered Center Stage feature makes it so I can move around while chatting (perfect for calls while cooking).

McGarry doesn’t like that the front-facing camera is positioned to the left of the display when the iPad is used in landscape orientation, but that’s clearly a criticism that would apply to Apple’s entire iPad line, rather than this model in particular.

A13 bionic chip

Ars TechnicaIts Andrew Cunningham looks at the A13 Bionic chip in the new iPad, up from the A12 chip in the previous generation model, calling it a “nice generational bump” but “not transformative.”

The 8th-gen iPad’s jump from the Apple A10 to the A12 was a big improvement that made a meaningful difference in day-to-day use. The jump from A12 to A13 is not that big. You’re looking at a 20 or 30 percent improvement in processor speed and 25 to 40 percent faster performance in games and other 3D-heavy apps. It’s a nice generational bump, but it’s not transformative—though if you’re upgrading from an older iPad with an A9 or A10, both the A12 and A13 feel like a big jump.

Geekbench multi-core results via Ars Technica

CNNIts Jacob Kroll agrees, noting that performance is “not a night-and-day upgrade” but that the new iPad–handles the most intensive tasks smoothly and will offer slightly more futureproofing than the A12 in the eighth-generation model.

battery life

Several reviewers saw battery life, too Gizmodo In a video-streaming test at 10 hours and 42 minutes, the entry-level ‌iPad‌ lasted slightly longer than the iPad Air, handily beating the 12.9-inch iPad Pro. CNNIts video-streaming battery test yielded 9 hours and 45 minutes, a 25-minute increase over the previous-generation ‌iPad‌.

wrap up

Overall, reviewers found that the ninth-generation iPad–continues to offer the solid value that has made Apple’s cheapest iPad its most popular model in years. With its closest competitors—the iPad Air and iPad mini—both receiving significant updates recently, the base iPad certainly looks a bit dated with its large bezels, traditional home button, Lightning connector, and unchanged overall design, but it’s going to get the job done for many at the right price. .